Understanding Trauma
These three survival responses to a stressful situation are driven by the "reptilian brain" (your brainstem) and can lead to challenging behaviors in staff, parents, and/or the child in an FRC setting.
What are fight, flight, and freeze?
Fight, Flight, or Freeze in an Infant:
Startles
Irritability
Arching away from caregiver
Does not want to be touched or held
Separation distress
Arousal
What is fight?
My parent-child activity teaches and models social and emotional communication skills to parents and children.
0 - rarely
50- occasionally
100 - every session
Children who suffer from this type of stress...develop reactions that persist and affect their daily lives after the events have ended...reactions can include...intense and ongoing emotional upset, depressive symptoms or anxiety, behavioral changes, difficulties with self-regulation, problems relating to others or forming attachments, regression or loss of previously acquired skills, attention and academic difficulties, nightmares, difficulty sleeping and eating, and physical symptoms, such as aches and pains. Older children may use drugs or alcohol, behave in risky ways, or engage in unhealthy sexual activity.
What is the definition of child traumatic stress? (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Fight, Flight, or Freeze in a Toddler:
Runs from caregiver
Hides under table or out of sight of caregiver
Pulls jacket over head
Sits in corner of room and just watches
What is flight?
My parent-child activity teaches and models stable, predictable routines, and environments for the parents and children.
0 - rarely
100- occasionally
200 - every session
Childhood trauma can impact this area of development in the following areas: attachment relationships, empathy, emotion regulation, and interpersonal relationships.
What is socio-emotional development?
Fight, Flight, or Freeze in a preschooler:
Withdraws/Shuts down
Daydreams, appears sleepy/falls asleep when not naptime
Picking at skin, head banging, rocking (perseverating/repetitive movements)
Reverting behaviors like sucking thumb after having stopped
Unresponsive to comments, requests, or name being called
What is freeze?
My parent-child activity helps parents and children feel that they are valued, they belong in our FRC and/or our group activity, and are an important member of the community.
0 - rarely
150- occasionally
300 - every session
This is our state of physiological and mental alertness. This state can be labeled as high, low/under, optimal, hyper, or hypo and can be affected by environmental stimuli. Children who experience trauma may exhibit either hyper or hypo levels or both.
What is arousal?
Fight, Flight, or Freeze in a Preschooler:
Cursing
Biting/Kicking/Hitting/Hurting others
Screams and yells
Talks back
Throws objects
Tantrums
What is Fight?
My parent-child activity teaches and models age appropriate play and parenting strategies which support the child's development of social and emotional skills.
0 - rarely
200- occasionally
400 - every session
"The most important intervention for trauma informed programs is for children to interact with a caring, responsive and self-regulated adult who does this to them."
What is attunes?
Fight, Flight, or Freeze in an Infant/Toddler:
Tunes out/social withdrawal
Restricted play/social interactions
Becomes absorbed with something and seems unaware of people
Falls asleep when things are noisy, chaotic, and (over)stimulating
Avoidance/breaking of eye contact
What is freeze?
The staff conducting my parent-child activity teach and model the use of self-reflection and inquiry when engaging with children.
0 - rarely
250- occasionally
500 - every session